ABOUT THE PROJECT

Anti-Racism & The Arts is a national project supporting artists, creatives, and cultural organisations to take action against racism and drive systemic change. Officially launching in April 2025, our How to Be Anti-Racist in the Arts campaign brings together creativity, education, and advocacy to build racial equity across the arts, screen, and creative sectors.

Bold visual material, featuring posters and postcards by artist Judy Kuo, available to download and display or to order/pick-up.
An interactive Racial Literacy Quiz — a free, reflective tool to support learning and dialogue
A Masterclass Program designed to train creatives from culturally and racially marginalised backgrounds to lead conversations about racial equity (delivered by TAFE NSW). This program is now closed.
A network of trained campaign presenters available to deliver sessions to arts and cultural organisations between April to June 2025 (bookings open from 2 April 2025).
A dedicated Anti-Racism Resource Hub offering tools, readings, templates, and case studies to support practical action across the sector.
A social media campaign to amplify key messages and foster ongoing public conversation.
A Racism in the Arts Incident Survey, where artists and creative workers can anonymously report experiences of racial discrimination in the sector.

About the Artist

Judy Kuo (she/they) is a queer artist, workshop facilitator, freelance illustrator, and support worker from Naarm (Melbourne). She is a member of the Workers Art Collective - a group of likeminded unionist-artists predominantly based in Naarm. She is passionate about worker power, anti-racism, disability justice, trans justice, climate justice, and refugee rights. Her cultural background is Teochew and Hong Konger.

Anti-Racism & The Arts Masterclass Program

In 2024, Diversity Arts Australia (DARTS) and TAFE NSW, with support from the NSW Premier’s Department, delivered a four-part Anti-Racism & The Arts Masterclass Program. Designed to build leadership and advocacy skills, the program supported culturally and racially marginalised creatives, including First Nations backgrounds, to lead anti-racism work within their communities and the broader sector.

Twenty participants participated in the program. The training focused on trauma-informed practice, cultural safety, racism and anti-racism, community advocacy, and creative campaign development. Following the program, participants were trained to deliver campaign presentations and workshops as part of the Anti-Racism & The Arts campaign.

Acknowledgements

Proudly funded by NSW Government_RGB (1).png

Sponsors and Supporters

Anti-Racism & The Arts is a project of Diversity Arts Australia and was developed in partnership with TAFE NSW. The project was powered by our Reference Group (credited below), which includes artists, creative sector and human rights leaders, and community advocates.

Funding was provided by the NSW Government through the Strengthening Social Cohesion Community Grants program.

Diversity Arts Australia is assisted by the Australian Government through Creative Australia, its principal arts funding and advisory body, and by Create NSW.

The project has also been supported by Arts and Cultural Exchange, City of Sydney and the Sydney Opera House.

Core Team and Project Contributors

Lena Nahlous, CEO and Executive Producer, Diversity Arts Australia
Kevin Bathman, Creative Producer – Strategic Projects, Diversity Arts Australia
Simone Amelia Jordan, Project Manager – Special Initiatives, Diversity Arts Australia
Glaiza Perez, Digital Engagement and Marketing Manager, Diversity Arts Australia
Aneeta Menon, Online Training Developer, Wordology
Gary Paramanathan, Masterclass Co-Facilitator
Dr Rohini Balram, Research, Education & Policy Manager, Diversity Arts Australia
Carielyn Tunion, former Creative Producer, Diversity Arts Australia
Judy Kuo, Artist and Illustrator
Tiani Chillemi, Marketing Consultant, Pubblico
Ben Hoh, Designer, Studio Thing
Suzy Monzer, Research Assistant
Margaret Mayhew, Accessibility Consultant
Morwena Collett, Accessibility Consultant

Project Reference Group

Dr Paula Abood, Senior Education Officer – Multicultural Engagement, TAFE NSW
Emmanuel Asante, Artist and Board Member, We Are Studios
Dr Rosalie Atie, Director, National Anti-Racism Strategy, Australian Human Rights Commission
Raphael Brasil, Arts & Culture Producer, Settlement Services International
Jenny Cao, Digital Communications Coordinator, Democracy in Colour
Nadyat El Gawley, Radio Producer and Podcaster
Morlai Kamara, Project Officer, Australian Human Rights Commission
Joannie Lee, Community Organiser, Democracy in Colour
Moones Mansoubi, Manager – Youth, Women & Communities, Settlement Services International
Zarlasht Sarwari, Community Engagement Officer, Anti-Discrimination NSW
Gillian Stokie, Manager, Communications & Engagement, Anti-Discrimination NSW
Adol Takpiny, Senior Policy & Project Officer, Department of Justice NSW
Kiriaki Zakinthinos, CEO, CuriousWorks

Anti-Racism & The Arts Masterclass Participants

Adrian Mouhajer
Dr Alexia Derbas
Alissar Seyla
Angie Pai
Arfa Khan
Athésia Music
Egan Sun-Bin
Emmanuel Asante
Jayanto Tan
Jonathan Chan
Leo Chau
Madison Connors
Marisa Pasicznik Ross
Nadia Di Martino
Nancy Diaz
Natasha Yayoi Marich
R. Ramos
Sara Mir (Zeinab)
Shasha Gong
Swaroopa Unni
Thirangie Jayatilake
Tia Mavanie
Yuki Kawakami